Teaching and Learning Principal
Zachary Parr
Welcome to the Teaching & Learning section of our newsletter. Each edition is designed to give families a clear and meaningful window into what students are learning, how we are supporting their growth, and the many opportunities available to them both inside and beyond the classroom.
In this space, you’ll find:
Key Teaching & Learning priorities for the term
Snapshots from classrooms, showcasing engaging learning moments across year levels
Updates on whole‑school initiatives, instructional practices, and innovations
Highlights from co‑curricular programs that enrich learning beyond the timetable
Practical tips to help families support study habits, wellbeing, and engagement at home
Celebrations of effort, progress, and achievement across our student community
By sharing these insights, we aim to strengthen the partnership between school and home—something consistently shown to improve student connection and outcomes. Effective school newsletters help families feel informed, included, and confident about their child’s learning journey, and that is exactly what we strive for here.
Learning at Home – A Simple Question to Ask
One of the most effective ways families can support learning is through regular conversations about what students are learning.
Rather than simply asking:
“Did you have any homework today?”
try asking:
“What is something you learned today that you didn't know before?”
or:
“What was the most challenging part of your learning today?”
These simple questions encourage students to think about their learning, explain their thinking and reflect on their progress.
At Norwood, we want every student to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to become an increasingly independent and successful learner.
Through high-quality teaching, purposeful feedback, meaningful learning experiences and strong partnerships between school, students and families, we can continue to support every student to make progress and achieve their potential.
Celebrating Learning – What’s Happening in Classrooms.
Year 9 Café Bakery: Designing Healthy Muffins
Students in Ms Smith’s Year 9 Café Bakery class recently took part in a Design a Muffin
Challenge, where they were tasked with creating a healthy sweet or savoury muffin suitable for sale in the school canteen. The muffins needed to include fruit and/or vegetables, be nutritious, and meet specific preparation and cost requirements.
Throughout the project, students researched recipes, selected ingredients, planned their production process, and applied safe food-handling practices. They then baked and evaluated their creations, considering appearance, taste, texture, and aroma.
The task provided students with an excellent opportunity to develop their food technology knowledge, creativity, and practical cookery skills while producing a range of delicious and healthy muffins
Year 7 English: Reporting the News
Students in Ms Pratt's Year 7 English class recently stepped into the role of journalists as they developed and presented their own news reports.
Using a structured planning process, students explored contemporary topics such as the use of AI in classrooms, the impact of homework, and the possibility of longer school holidays.
As part of the task, students planned interviews, considered different perspectives, and crafted news reports that included introductions, interviews,
consequences, and reflections.
They developed their speaking, writing, critical thinking, and presentation skills while learning how journalists communicate information in a clear and balanced manner.
The project challenged students to think critically about current issues and present their ideas with confidence, resulting in a range of engaging and creative news broadcast
Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0
Understanding the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0
As parents/carers, staying informed about the direction of state education is a helpful way to support your child’s learning journey. Government schools have been introducing the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0. This model focuses on fostering student engagement, personalisation and collaboration to ensure each child can thrive at school.
What is the VTLM 2.0?
This model is different to previous models because it takes into consideration the ‘elements of learning,’ or what some might call the science of learning.
The model (see below) identifies 4 elements of learning:
Attention, focus and regulation
Knowledge and memory
Retention and recall
Mastery and application
We will be sending more information about this model out over the next term or so, but more importantly, this model will help us determine the professional learning direction for our teachers to ensure we can continue to provide an outstanding educational program at our college.
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Conferences (or meet and greets) will be held on Wednesday 16th of September. More details, including how to book, will be sent out when GPAs are published at the mid point of this term. Please tentatively lock this date in now.
Homework Club
Norwood Secondary College understands that students have different learning strengths, preferences and interests and may approach learning activities and homework differently. If parents/carers are concerned their child may not understand the homework tasks that have been set, or if their child is spending a long period of time completing their homework, we encourage parents/carers to speak to their child’s teacher.
Students who may benefit from support completing their homework tasks are encouraged to attend Homework Club held in the College Library on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 3.15 and 4.15pm. Homework Club resumed this week and parent/carer permission is required to attend. Please complete the form below and return it to the General Office.
*For information on the school's Homework Policy, visit the Junior and Senior School Handbooks.